The Hosts File Does Not Reflect Changes If You Alter It by Renaming or Copying (283092)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2
This article was previously published under Q283092

SYMPTOMS

If you create a Hosts file in another folder or with a different name and you then copy or rename the file to %SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers\Etc\Hosts, you may not be able to resolve host names in the new Hosts file. If you open the new Hosts file in Notepad one time and then save it, you can then resolve the names in the new Host file.

CAUSE

The DNS Cache service waits for changes to the Hosts files from a FindFirstChangeNotification notification. However, Windows tries to open the Hosts file as soon as a change has been signaled.

This problem can also occur if another process has opened the Hosts file share in Exclusive mode.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows 2000 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date         Time   Version        Size     File name
   -----------------------------------------------------------------
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3858  355,088  advapi32.dll
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3649  135,440  dnsapi.dll
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3649   94,992  dnsrslvr.dll
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3817  142,608  kdcsvc.dll
   17-Jul-2001  20:08  5.0.2195.3872  197,392  kerberos.dll
   26-Jun-2001  23:16  5.0.2195.3781   69,456  ksecdd.sys
   17-Jul-2001  19:52  5.0.2195.3870  501,520  lsasrv.dll    128-bit
   17-Jul-2001  19:52  5.0.2195.3870  501,520  lsasrv.dll     56-bit
   17-Jul-2001  19:52  5.0.2195.3870   33,552  lsass.exe
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3776  306,448  netapi32.dll
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3776  357,648  netlogon.dll
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3868  909,072  ntdsa.dll
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3868  382,224  samsrv.dll
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3781  128,784  scecli.dll
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3649  299,792  scesrv.dll
   18-Jul-2001  20:55  5.0.2195.3649   48,400  w32time.dll
   29-May-2001  12:26  5.0.2195.3649   56,080  w32tm.exe

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to install Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 hotfixes at the same time, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

249149 Installing Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Hotfixes

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/7/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbQFE kbWin2000PreSP3Fix KB283092
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